Barring some dramatic – and unforeseen – news this week, expect investors to tread water until Thursday, when the government is expected to release the results of the bank stress tests it conducted on the 19 largest U.S. banks.

The stress-test results are expected to show that the 19 banks may have to raise between $100 billion to $150 billion – or even more – in new capital. Investors will cause the shares of the strong players to zoom northward, and will likely savage the shares of the weakest players.

“I can’t think of a time since I’ve been watching banks when there’s been so much uncertainty about the true value of a key set of assets,” Douglas Elliott, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, told Reuters.

The U.S. bank stress tests have transfixed the world financial markets for weeks, exacerbating the ongoing financial crisis – worsening the U.S.

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Zacks senior semiconductor industry analyst Abdul Saleh was on hand recently to give us his updated viewpoint of this sector. He even told us what his top three semi Buy-recommended stocks are at this time.

What’s new in the semiconductor industry lately?

With a slowdown in the domestic economy, the chip companies are looking globally -- notably Russia, India, China and South America -- for growth, where the demand for technology is growing at a healthy 30-40% clip. In fact, Intel’s (INTC) CEO Craig Barrett was interviewed recently on this subject and reiterated this viewpoint.

The Street has not bought this thesis as yet, but if the numbers turn out to be what the companies are projecting, it may be positive for investors. Also, we got some exposure with the media in this sector -- I, myself did an IBD interview on Atheros (ATHR) recently -- and our

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Zacks senior semiconductor industry analyst Abdul Saleh was on hand recently to give us his updated viewpoint of this sector. He even told us what his top three semi Buy-recommended stocks are at this time.

What’s new in the semiconductor industry lately?

< ?DART(15);?> With a slowdown in the domestic economy, the chip companies are looking globally -- notably Russia, India, China and South America -- for growth, where the demand for technology is growing at a healthy 30-40% clip. In fact, Intel’s (

...

With over 275 offices worldwide and approximately 8,500 employees, Tetra Tech Inc. is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services. Founded in 1966, and listed on the NASDAQ, the company operates in three segments: Resource Management, Infrastructure Services, and Communications Services. Their corporate mission is to be the premier global consulting and engineering firm.

Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Tetra Tech began as a provider of engineering services related to waterways, harbors, and coastal areas. Today, they offer expanded services and their fiscal year 2007 revenues were $1.55 billion. Overall, the company provides environmental water/wastewater management, infrastructure services, communications support, systems support, security design, and outsourced technical services.

Their Resource Management division focuses on the management of water resources. They help support government programs for water quality improvement and environmental restoration. They also support the productive reuse of defense facilities as well as engage in strategic environmental resource planning. They

...

Zacks senior semiconductor industry analyst Abdul Saleh was on hand recently to give us his updated viewpoint of this sector. He even told us what his top three semi Buy-recommended stocks are at this time.

What’s new in the semiconductor industry lately?

With a slowdown in the domestic economy, the chip companies are looking globally -- notably Russia, India, China and South America -- for growth, where the demand for technology is growing at a healthy 30-40% clip. In fact, Intel’s (INTC) CEO Craig Barrett was interviewed recently on this subject and reiterated this viewpoint.

The Street has not bought this thesis as yet, but if the numbers turn out to be what the companies are projecting, it may be positive for investors. Also, we got some exposure with the media in this sector -- I, myself did an IBD interview on Atheros (ATHR) recently -- and our

...